Block-signal system.



W. A. LACKE.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 190a.

1,045,043, Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

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mwwrj W. A. LACKE.- BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 7, 1909.

Patented Nov. 19, 1912.

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WILLIAM A. LACKE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19,1912.

Application filed August 7, 1909. Serial No. 511,725.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. LAcKn, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Block-Signal System, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

My invention relates to block signal sys tems, my more particular purpose being to provide an electrically-operated signaling mechanism by the use of which a semaphore arm, or analogous member, may be caused to assume a number of separate positions under the automatic control of the rolling stock,

and after the signaling member is once set,

in any of its positions by aid of an electric current, no further current is used in holding it in such positions.

Reference is'to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a diagram of a semaphore arm, the solenoid mechanism for actuating it, and the wiring used for energizing said solenoid mechanism; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly diagrammatic, showing the construction of the solenoid mechanism.

A post is shown at 3 and journaled upon it is a semaphore arm 4 adapted to occupy a number of difierent positions, as hereinafter described.

At 5 is a solenoid which, because of its large size and of the office which it performs, I designate as the main solenoid. At 6, 7, 8' are difi'erent blocks-that is, subdivisions of the railway track, the different rail sections being shown at 9, 1O, 11, 12, 13, 14. In block 7 at 15 is a battery which is connected by wires 16, 17 with the rail sections 12, 11. Similarly in the block 8 a battery 18 is connected by wires 19, 20 with the rail sections 14, 13.

At 21, 22 connected with a battery 22 are wires corresponding to the wires 16, 17, or 19, 20, but associated with the block 6. A battery is shown at 23 and furnishes power for energizing the various solenoids, as hereinafter described.

The main solenoid 5 is provided with a movable armature 24 and extending upwardly from the latter is a stem 25 which carries a head 26, the head and stem being rigid relatively to the armature.

At 27 is a solenoid which, because of the oflice which it performs, I designate as a relay solenoid. It is provided with a movable armature 28 carrying a boss 29 which is adapted to rest upon a latch 30. This latch has generally the form of a lever and is pivotally mounted upon a support 31. The latch 30 is provided with a portion 32 which extends outwardly, almost to the edge of the head 26 and when the latch 30 is tilted slightly and the head 26 raised, the portion 32 may extend slightly under the. head 26 and thus support the weight of all parts connected with this head. Carried by the latch 30 is a plate 33 of insulating material and mounted upon the latter is a contact spring 34 having generally the form of a bow, and held upon the plate by aid of a fastening 35. At 36, 37 are fixed contact points which may be engaged by the free ends of the contact spring 34. The armature 28 of the solenoid 27 is provided centrally with a stem 38 extending upwardly. This stem carries a contact plate 39 which may be moved into and out of engagement with two stationary contact points 40, 41. Disposed above the contact plate 39 and carried by the stem 38 is another contact plate 42. Both of the contact plates 39, 42 are insulated from the stem 38 by aid of washers 43 of insulating material. At 44, 45 are stationary contact members which may be engaged by the plate 42 in its upward travel. At 46 is another relay solenoid which is provided with a movable armature 47 carrying a boss 48. Below the latter is a latch 49 having a portion 50 projecting toward the head 26 and capable of supporting the latter when said head is raised to a sufficient height and the latch is tilted slightly. The latch is journaled upon a pin 51 which is carried by a support 52.

At 53 is a spring which engages the latch 49 and tends to tilt it upon the pivot pin 51. The latch 49 carries a plate 54 and mounted upon the latter is a contact spring 55.

At 56, 56 are two stationary contact points disposed adjacent to the contact spring 55.

Mounted upon the armature 47 and extending upwardly therefrom is a stem 57 which carries a contact plate 58. Disposed above this contact plate are stationary contact points 59, 60. From the contact point 60 a wire 61 leads to the stationary contact point 56. A wire 62 is connected with the stationary contact point 40 and with a wire 63 which leads to the stationary contact point 59. Joined to the wires 62, 63 is a wire 64 which leads to the battery 23 and from this battery 21. wire 65 leads to the main solenoid 5. A wire 66 is connected with the contact point 36 and with two other wires 67, 68, the wire 67 being connected with the main solenoid 5 and the wire 68 leading to the stationary contact point 56. A wire 69 is connected with the stationary contact members 37, 41. Connected with the relay solenoid 27 is a wire 70, this wire being also connected with the rail section 12. The rail section 11 is connected by wire 71 with the solenoid 27. A. wire 72 is connected with the stationary contact point 45 and with the rail section 14. The solenoid 46 is also connected by a wire 73 with the rail section 13 in block 8. The stationary contact point 44 is connected by a wire 74 with the relay solenoid 46. A wire 74 leads from the relay solenoid 46 to the stationary contact member 44.

When the various movable parts are in their respective normal positions-that is to say, when no trains are present in any of the blocks shownthe head 26 is in its uppermost position, its lower end resting upon theprojecting portion 50 of the latch 49 and supporting the weight of the armature '24 so that the semaphore arm 4 hangs straight downward, indicating that the track is clear.

The post 3 and the mechanism which it supports are located within or near block 7. Each block has its own post and mechanism carried thereby.

The operation of my device is as follows: Suppose that the various movable parts are in their respective normal positions as just described, and that a train moves from the block 6 into the block 7. This train short circuits the rail sections 11, 12, and in so doing deenergizes the solenoid 27. This done it is evident that the two armatures 28, 47 now rest upon the latches 30, 49, so that these latches are drawn away from the head 26. The weight of this head end of the stem 25 and that of the armature 24 now causes the arm 4 to swing into horizontal position, as indicated in Fig.1. The horizontal position of the arm indicates danger and is the signal to stop. It therefore gives warning to any approaching train that the block 7 is not to be entered by such train. Suppose, now, that the train in block 7 moves into block 8. As the train clears the block 7 the rail sections 11, 12 are no longer short-circuited and the following circuit is therefore completed: battery 15, wire 16,rail section 12, wire 70, relay solenoid 27, wire 71, rail section 11, wire 17, back to battery 15. The solenoid 27 being thus energized draws up the armature 28. The latch 30, being actuated by the spring 30 immediately, is now tilted slightly so that the projecting portion 32 moves toward the head 26. The rising of the armature 28 causes the contact plate 39 toengage the contact members 40, 41 and the contact plate is brought into engagement with the contact points 44, 45. The contact piece 34 is so formed and arranged as to remain in engagement with the contact members 36 and 37 after a slight movement of the latch 30. The engagement of the contact plate 39 with the contact points 40, 41 completed the following circuit: battery 23, wires 64, 62, contact point T 40, contact plate 39, contact point 41, wire 69, contact point 37, contact spring 34, contact point 36, wires 66, 67 main solenoid 5, and wire 65, back to battery 23. This energizes the main solenoid 5 and lifts the arma- 1 ture 24 so that the lower end of the head 26 now catches upon the projecting portion 32 of the latch 30. The weight of the plunger and parts immediately associated with it being thus supported and the latch 31" turning slightly for the purpose just indicated, the contact spring 34 is'raised out of engagement with the stationary contact points 36, 37. This opens the circuit traced through the main solenoid 5 and by deenergizing this solenoid leaves the head 26 resting upon the projecting portion 32 of the latch, no current being used in supporting the weight of the head 26 or armature 24.

The semaphore arm now occupies the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1; that is to say, the arm is partially raised and therefore gives the cautionary signal. No current is now flowing through the main solenoid 5 and the parts may remain for l any length of time in the position just described. As soon as the train leaves block 8, so that the short circuit between the rail sections 13, 14 is removed, the longer circuit through the solenoid 46 is energized. The armature 47 rises in consequence, and this causes the plate 58 to engage the stationary contact points 59, 60. The following circuit is thus completed: battery 23, wire 64, stationary contact point 59,contact plate 58, stationary contactpoint 60, wire 61, contact point 56, spring 55, contact point 56*, wires 68, 67, main solenoid 5, and wire 65, back to battery 23. This energizes the'main solenoid 5 and by causing it to raise the armature 24 moves the semaphore arm 4, so that the latter hangs vertically and thus-inclicates a clear track. The upward movement of the armature 24 causes the head 26 to rise until the latch 49 tilt-s, so that the projecting portion 50 of this latch passes under the head 26 and supports it, thereby locking the semaphore arm in its normal position,-

draws the contact spring 55 from its engagement with the stationary contact points 56, 56

Since the solenoid 46, its armature 47, the latch 49 and contact members 55, 56, 56, together constitute a type of relay, I may use any other type of relay instead of these parts. Similarly I may substitute any other relay for that made up of the solenoid 27, the movable parts actuated thereby, and the contact members opened and closed by said movable parts.

As the solenoid 5 is essentially a motor magnetic member, I do not limit myself to the use of a solenoid in this relation, but may employ any other magnetic motor member suitable for actuating a semaphore arm or equivalent signaling member.

In cases where the track current is not sufficient to operate the relays 27, 46, these relays are to be connected so as to get their operating current from the battery 23 and separate track relays used to operate cont acts to control the relays 26 and 46.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

A signal biased to move to danger position, electromagnetic means for moving the signal to caution and clear positions, two local circuits including said electromagnetic means, a relay for closing one of said circuits whereby said electromagnetic means is energized to move the signal to caution position, a latch controlled by said relay and rendered operable When the signal is at caution position to hold the signal and simultaneously break said circuit, a second relay for closing the other circuit through said electromagnetic means whereby the latter is energized to move the signal to clear position, and a second latch controlled by said second relay and rendered operable when the signal is in clear position to hold the signal and simultaneously break said other circuit, and circuits for said relays controllable in succession by a piece of rolling stock, the circuit of the second mentioned relay being also controlled by said first mentioned relay.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM A. LACKE.

Witnesses:

JOHN P. GEHRING, FLETCHER A. TINKHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

